Use of intranasal luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist in uterine leiomyomas.

Nine women harboring uterine leiomyomas have been treated with subcutaneous injections and then with intranasal insufflation of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist for a total treatment period of 6 months. After initial stimulation, mean serum estradiol progressively decreased and stabilized at 36.8 +/- 4.9 pg/ml for the rest of the treatment period. The volume of uterine leiomyomas has been reduced by an average of 71%. Side effects and hot flushes were less severe and better tolerated than reported after sole subcutaneous administration.